Microsoft has confirmed that its Azure cloud services were disrupted after undersea cables in the Red Sea were damaged, slowing internet traffic across the Middle East.
The company said users may notice delays or higher latency on services routed through the region but stressed that traffic outside the Middle East was unaffected. Engineers have redirected data along other paths to ease the impact.
Azure, one of the world’s largest cloud platforms, underpins critical services for governments, companies and millions of users worldwide.
Wider Internet Impact
The disruption has not been limited to Microsoft. Internet observatory NetBlocks said connectivity in several countries, including India and Pakistan, had been affected.
Pakistan’s state-owned provider PTCL said the breaks occurred near the Saudi port city of Jeddah. It warned that customers could experience slower speeds during peak hours. Reports also pointed to service issues in the United Arab Emirates and other parts of Asia.
Why Undersea Cables Matter
More than 95% of global internet traffic travels through fibre-optic cables lying on the ocean floor. They are crucial to global communications but remain vulnerable to accidents and interference.
Cables can be damaged by fishing activity, earthquakes or anchors. Some incidents are suspected to be deliberate.
In February 2024, several Red Sea cables were cut, disrupting data links between Europe and Asia. That came weeks after Yemen’s recognised government accused the Iran-backed Houthi movement of plotting sabotage, though the Houthis denied responsibility.
Past Cases of Sabotage
Concerns about cable security have also grown in Europe. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, multiple undersea cables and pipelines in the Baltic Sea have been damaged.
Earlier this year, Swedish prosecutors said they suspected sabotage after a ship was linked to damage on a cable between Sweden and Latvia. Investigators have yet to release their final findings, but officials say deliberate interference cannot be ruled out.
Security Concerns Rise
The latest cuts have underlined how easily the world’s communications can be disrupted. Microsoft says rerouting has reduced the impact on most customers, but the episode has again exposed the system’s fragility.
Analysts warn that as geopolitical tensions rise, undersea cables could become deliberate targets. They note that protecting them is difficult because of the vast distances involved and the fact that much of the infrastructure is privately owned.
For now, Microsoft insists the disruption is limited and being managed. But the damage in the Red Sea has reinforced how dependent the global economy is on cables lying, unseen, at the bottom of the sea.
